The Suicide Table

by Kris Thompson

NOTE: 100 percent of the playwright's royalty fees for the world premiere of this play will be donated to the producer or director's choice of nonprofit suicide prevention organization.

Six people from different walks of life have made the decision to kill themselves on this day. However, the forces of cosmic balance bring it to their attention that the suicide quota is nearly full and only one of them can go through with suicide. They must, amongst themselves, determine which of them will be allowed to do so. Each may share memory scenes to show what brought them to this decision. After much debate, they have all decided that none of them are going to commit suicide. At this point the forces of cosmic balance indicate that they did not understand…the quota is nearly full and must be fulfilled which means that one of the six must commit suicide.

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The Suicide Table

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Doug DeVita: The Suicide Table by Kris Thompson

“

Kris Thompson's probing, compassionate look into the reasons why (or why not) someone would want (or not) to end their life is at times horrifying, touching, heartbreaking, and not without flashes of humor, a compelling if darkly theatrical piece of storytelling. Not an easy read, but absolutely worth it.

Kris Thompson's probing, compassionate look into the reasons why (or why not) someone would want (or not) to end their life is at times horrifying, touching, heartbreaking, and not without flashes of humor, a compelling if darkly theatrical piece of storytelling. Not an easy read, but absolutely worth it.

”

Character Information

Supporting roles can be doubled, tripled at Director's discretion.

RON

30s abusive live-in boy-friend of Megan and sexual abuser of Katie. (can also be cast as Paul)

Character Age

30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
KELVIN

50s, black, homeless Vietnam vet suffering from PTSD. He plans on stepping in front of a city bus/train.

Character Age

50-60

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

African American / Black

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
DAVID

30s-40s controlling husband to Laura. (can also be cast as Chris and Dr. Buckley)

Character Age

30-40

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
KATIE

Ten-year-old girl with an apathetic, drunk, drugged-out mother and her mother’s sexually abusive live-in boyfriend. She plans to use her Mother’s illegal drugs to kill herself.

Character Age

10

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Child,
  
  Teens
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
KID

Teen street boy. (Can also be cast as female Amanda)

Character Age

teen

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens
LAURA

Late 30s mentally ill mother suffering from very severe postpartum depression/psychosis after the birth of her fifth child. She has no support from a controlling husband, has just ended the life of her baby, and plans to end her own as well.

Character Age

30-40

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
CLAIRE

30s embezzling girlfriend-on-the-side of Stewart. (can also be cast as Megan, Cambria and Lisa)

Character Age

30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
DECKEN

Gay teen boy from loving family who has been sent by his parents to a reconditioning camp to “cure” his sexual orientation. He is planning on jumping off the roof of his dormitory.

Character Age

teen

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
CAMBRIA

30s Mom to Decken. (can also be cast as Claire, Megan, and Lisa)

Character Age

30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
LINDSAY

Early 30s woman with terminal brain cancer who plans to legally end her life via the death with dignity act. She now possesses the doctor prescribed pills to end her life.

Character Age

30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
AMANDA

Teen girl, childhood best friend to Decken. (can also be cast as male Kid)

Character Age

teen

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
STEWART

50s, selfish accountant who plans to shoot himself to avoid the humiliation of being arrested for financial crimes.

Character Age

50s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
LISA

Sister to Laura (can also be cast as Cambria, Claire, and Megan)

Character Age

30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
CHRIS

Adult male or female keeper of the cosmic balance of life and death. (can also be cast as David and Dr. Buckley)

Character Age

Any age

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
DR. BUCKLEY

50s Oncologist to Lindsay (can also be cast as David and Chris)

Character Age

50-60

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s,
  
  60s
LOUISE

Late 20s black fiancé and later wife of Kelvin (can also “age up” and be cast as Nana.)

Character Age

20s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

African American / Black

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
PAUL

Supportive, loving husband to Lindsay (can also be cast as Ron)

Character Age

30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
NANA

50s Grandmother of Katie. (can also be cast as Louise if aged up to Nana)

Character Age

50s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
MEGAN

30s druggie Mom of Katie. (can also be cast as Claire, Cambria, and Lisa)

Character Age

30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female